He was born in Charleston, W.Va., to the late Joe Albert Christy Sr. and Justine Clevinger Christy. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brother, Julius Albert Christy. Joe was a U.S. Army veteran. He was owner/operator of Franklin Town Cobbler for 12 years and was a member of Victory Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.

He is survived by: his wife of 54 years, Barbara Christy; two children, Julia Ann Christy Pile and husband Jeff of Tampa, Fla., and Joe A. Christy III and wife Deborah of Franklin; a sister, Betty Annadeane Earnhardt of Tampa; and two grandsons, William Pile and Nicolas Scott Christy.

A funeral service was held Sunday at Victory Baptist Church with the Revs. Rusty Wolfrey and Benny Bagwell and Mike Fitzgerald officiating, with military rites conducted by VFW Post 7339 and American Legion Post 108. Burial followed in the church cemetery.